The American Dream Deferred

Japanese American Experience in WWII Arkansas

The American Dream Deferred shares the story of Arkansas's involvement in the Japanese American incarceration during World War II. Using objects from the Butler Center's Rosalie Santine Gould - Mabel Jamison Vogel collection, this exhibition seeks to educate the people of Arkansas and the nation about the experience of those who were forcibly imprisoned in camps throughout the nation, including two in Arkansas. By presenting this troubled chapter of Arkansas and American history, we hope to highlight the triumph of the human spirit shown by many of the people who were held in the camps and the tests of American democracy they represented.

January 13 - July 29, 2017

Monday - Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
FREE and open to the public

Butler Center for Arkansas Studies
Concordia Hall Gallery
401 President Clinton Avenue
501-320-5700

Rohwer Camp #2
Mas. Kitake
Gouache on paper
12.75 x 15 in.
c. 1942-1945

Guided Tours

The Butler Center is pleased to offer funding for tour groups through a grant from the National Park Service. Tours are offered for groups of adults and children. For more information about scheduling a tour, please contact Kim Sanders, Confinement Sites Interpreter.

Are you a teacher interested in bringing your students to the exhibit? Get funding for your field trip!

Guided Tour Details

Offered twice daily at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (excludes holidays)
Suggested minimum of one hour to view Butler Center galleries
Admission is free
Advanced reservations are required for guided tours and field trips. Please call to schedule your visit at least two weeks in advance to determine if your desired visit date and arrival time are available. We will call to confirm your group guided tour one week prior to your scheduled visit date.
Travel grants are available for school groups.
For scheduling, please contact Kim Sanders or call 501-320-5734.

About Us

The Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, a department of the Central Arkansas Library System (CALS), was created in 1997 through an endowment by the late Richard C. Butler Sr. for the purpose of promoting a greater understanding and appreciation of Arkansas history, literature, art, and culture.

The research collections and offices are located in the Arkansas Studies Institute (ASI) at 401 President Clinton Ave, located on the Main Library campus in the River Market. The ASI is a partnership between CALS and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, through which the two institutions have made more than 10 million documents and photographs on Arkansas history available for public use.

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. And opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

The Butler Center for Arkansas Studies is a department
of the Central Arkansas Library System
100 Rock St. Little Rock, AR 72201